Questioning Begins In The British Scandal Hacking

LONDON - Sir Paul Stephenson, the outgoing head of Scotland Yard, appeared before a panel of lawmakers Tuesday that the scandal involving hacking phone the police, politicians and media elites expanded and some of the most powerful people in British public life including media mogul Rupert Murdoch, ready to be interviewed.

Sir Paul, who has handed in his resignation on Sunday, he appeared in his dark uniform, and the Commissioner quoted from Shakespeare to explain that when he decided to resign: "It 'was the best of it was done quickly."

It was intended to answer questions about his relationship with a new manager Murdoch. Later that day, Mr. Murdoch, his son James and former editor of The New World, Rebecca Brooks, were to testify before another panel.

The scandal has penetrated into the biggest crisis of the Prime Minister, David Cameron, who has cut short-African trade tour to return home, a range of refreshing change to the final showdown before the summer break, work with the opposition Party leader Ed Miliband on the occasion of the special session of the whole House on Wednesday.

Two days of hearings, a certificate of spin and reflect the magnitude of the scandal that repentance can spread in two short, tumultuous weeks because of reports indicate that the tabloid News of the World broke the answering machine and 13 years of school girl kidnapped in 2002.

Tuesday, two committee rooms dull side of the House of Commons, near the Thames at Westminster area of ​​central London, ride in the series, to appear powerful and in particular the first two police officers at Scotland Yard, who all two left Mr Murdoch and his son James, and Ms. Brooks, the former head of operations Murdoch press in Britain.

The Murdoch is to appear before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which starts at 2:30 London time, in Wilson Hall of Portcullis House. Ms. Brooks, who was editor of the tabloid News of the World at the time of piracy, and has denied knowledge of it, is to appear in the same room an hour later.

The review began when Sir Paul, the former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, commonly known as the Met or the garden in Scotland, appeared in the Grimond Room in the building before the Home Affairs Committee. It was followed by John Yates, former deputy commissioner of the force. Sir Paul M. Yates resigned on Sunday and then a day later, both deny any wrongdoing in its dealings with Neil Wallis, former deputy director of the New World that ended up working as media consultant for the police.

Mr. Yates, in particular, will be questioned on why he refused to reopen an earlier case study of telephone hacking The New World after a police investigation in 2009. As the scandal continues to shake up its ranks, Scotland Yard said Tuesday that the police controller, known as the Independent Police Complaints Commission has been asked to investigate the relationship between Fedorcio Dick, the Metropolitan Police director of communications, and Wallis .

At the next hearing, because in a hurry, and interviews with Rupert and James Murdoch and Ms. Brooks, 10 lawmakers in the House of Commons, which are derived from the three political parties in Parliament, is likely to ask questions that have agreed in advance. Process could take place very quickly, because there is little time to cover ground so much tied to what the trio knew as well as hacking attempts and the next nearest to avoid parliamentary scrutiny, the press, the police and the public.

A prominent member of the committee, said the group should focus their questions about the office culture Murdoch's newspaper when the phone started piracy was involved, who tried to cover up the scandal, and why James Murdoch settlement payments authorized before the scandal of the well-known people, including voice messages are known to have been hacked.

Senior Member of the Committee said that the group will focus on issues of culture Murdoch's newspapers, newsrooms, when I started hacking the phone, who was involved, who were trying to cover up a scandal, and because James Murdoch, the report entitled scandal known of people whose voice was known to have been violated.

Invoice Gateway can accommodate only 50 spectators, but the procedure has created a huge public interest and will be broadcast live. The British Parliament during the hearings, witnesses do not testify under oath. Instead, they must respond to the "glory". The committees have no power to punish them in the questions, but nothing has been proved misbehavior could deepen the shame associated with those related to the scandal.

At the political level, the focus of the hearings of the opportunity they offer to the Parliament to assert authority weakened in recent years by a scandal over the expense accounts of legislators. " It could push the balance of power to the legislators. Cookies can choose not to answer - in American terms, the fifth claim - if they find their comments could be self-incriminating.

All three are likely to appear with their lawyers, who can seek advice quietly. Committee members to see - Members of Parliament more aggressively denounced piracy in the past - including Labour members Paul Farrelly and Tom Watson and President, John Whittingdale, a Conservative.

Employees Committee has been a series of specific questions - are members of the first green leaves - but most combative interlocutors are likely to go off script.

"The trick of this committee becomes a comment on the record," said Brian Cathcart, a former journalist who worked as an advisor to the committee in the past. "They do not expect to convict and lock up your man, but to make people say things to expect."

Hearing of Ms. Brooks will probably be limited by the fact that it is a subject of police investigation of piracy. But she is sure to face questions about a comment she told the committee in 2003 that his newspaper had paid police for information - a comment she later retracted. Ms. Brooks has been invited to appear before the committee at the hearing in 2009, but refused to do so in person and instead submitted written testimony.

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